The Jet Age in Britain began with the Gloster E.28/39 and the Meteor fighter during the Second World War. At the end of the 1950s and the start of the 1960s, the next generation of British jet aircraft was beginning to come into service. This second generation began with the Gloster Javelin, the Sea Vixen and the very capable Canberra bomber, and included such iconic aircraft as the English Electric Lightning interceptor and the nuclear-capable V bombers (the Victor, the Valiant and the Vulcan) as well as airliners such as the BAC 1-11 and VC10.

In this book, aviation historian Guy Ellis looks at the development of this second generation of British jet aircraft.